Ironing board cover with storage bag

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture is provided for covering ironing boards. The article is comprised of an ironing board cover and a pouch attached to the cover. The pouch may be a pocket or a bag-like enclosure for holding accessories. In one embodiment, the bag is fixed to the cover. The bag may also be detachable from the cover, and may be detachable from one or more locations on the cover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to ironing boards and more specifically to ironing board covers with a bag or pouch attached to the cover to hold articles.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Ironing board covers in the present state of the art provide a surface on which garments, linens and the like can be pressed. Typical covers provide a smooth padded surface for ironing. The top material of the cover is usually heat resistant or insulated so that heat from the iron is reflected back into the garment being pressed, and not transferred to the ironing table beneath the cover. The underside of the cover may comprise padding and/or a slip-resistant material that keep the cover stationary on an ironing table as an iron slides over the cover.

[0003] Ironing boards are generally limited in size to provide a portable ironing surface that can be stored easily. When the ironing board is collapsed for storage, other accessories, such as spray starch, also need to be stored. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a storage container associated with the ironing table such that the ironing table and accessories can be readily stored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides an ironing table cover that holds accessories. The cover includes a sheath that fits around an ironing board. A pouch attached to the sheath holds accessories while the cover is on the ironing board or when the cover is detached from the ironing board. When the cover is on the ironing board, the pouch holds accessories within convenient reach of a person using the ironing board.

[0005] The pouch is attached to the sheath using any conventional fastener. In one embodiment of the invention, the pouch is fixed to the sheath. The pouch may also be detachable from the sheath, and may be detachable from the sheath at one or more places. The pouch may be manufactured in several forms, including a pocket integrally connected to the cover or a mesh bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The foregoing summary as well as the following description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the figures in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing board cover with a pouch, in accordance with the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the ironing board cover in FIG. 1 attached to an ironing table, said table being represented by dashed lines.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ironing board cover in FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an ironing board cover, showing a pouch detached from the cover.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an ironing board cover showing a cylindrically-shaped pocket attached to the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 in general, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 specifically, a cover 10 for covering an ironing board is shown. The cover 10 includes a fabric sheath 12 adapted to fit around the perimeter of an ironing board. A pouch 20 is located at one end of cover 10 and holds one or more articles, such as a bottle of spray starch, iron-on patches or other accessories. In use, cover 10 attaches to an ironing board and holds articles in the pouch so that a person using the ironing board can easily reach the articles while ironing.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, the cover 10 is shown attached to an ironing table 5. Cover 10 may be used with standard ironing tables or with table-top ironing boards. As shown in FIG. 1, cover 10 is configured to conform with the shape of an ironing board 7 on ironing table 5. In particular, the sheath 12 is adapted to fit over ironing board 7. Sheath 12 preferably includes a securing means to hold the cover 10 firmly on board 7.

[0014] The ironing table 5 includes an ironing board 7 supported by a pair of legs 8. The legs are pivotable so that the board can be collapsed for storage as shown in FIG. 1 in phantom. When the legs are extended as shown in FIG. 1, there is a gap between the legs and the board 7. When the table is collapsed, the legs are adjacent the table so that there is no significant gap between the board and the legs. Preferably, the pouch 20 is configured and positioned so that the pouch and its contents do not extend into the gap, which would interfere with folding the ironing table. More specifically, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pouch is attached to the top surface of the cover 10, and configured so that it does not hang below the ironing board 7 between the legs and the ironing board.

[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, cover 10 will be described in greater detail. Sheath 12 comprises a generally rectangular end 16 and a tapered end 18 that generally conforms to the shape of the ironing board. Preferably, the perimeter dimensions of sheath 12 are slightly larger than perimeter dimensions of ordinary ironing boards, so that cover 10 can easily fit around the ironing board. In addition, corner edges of sheath 12 are preferably rounded to conform to the shape of the ironing board. Referring now to FIG. 3, the edge of sheath 12 folds inwardly toward the interior of the sheath so as to form an opening 13 on the underside of cover 10. Sheath 12 is adapted to slip over the edges of ironing board 7, such that the board is received into opening 13 beneath the sheath, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bag or pouch 20 is attached to one end of sheath 12. Preferably, pouch 20 is attached to sheath 12 at rectangular end 16. Pouch 20 may be manufactured in several configurations. For example, pouch 20 may comprise a generally rectangular piece of heat-resistant material attached on three sides to sheath 12. The fourth side of pouch 20 is left unattached to the sheath 12 so as to form a pocket on top of the sheath. Alternatively, pouch 20 may comprise a bag-like enclosure attached to sheath 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bag 20 can be formed of numerous materials, including but not limited to clear or opaque plastic or vinyl. In FIG. 1, bag 20 is shown as a mesh bag.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, bag 20 has a bottom side 27 that attaches to sheath 12 and a top side 29 that faces upwardly when the bag 20 and sheath are attached to ironing board 7. The top side 29 has a slit or opening 25 that provides access inside the bag. A closure 26 on the bag 20 operates to open and close opening 25. Closure 26 may be of any type known in the art, including but not limited to a zipper, hook and loop connects, a snap connection or a button connection. In FIG. 1, closure 26 is shown as a zipper connection. Preferably, the materials used to form bag 20 are sufficiently heat-resistant to resist melting or damage when they come in contact with a hot iron.

[0018] As stated earlier, sheath 12 preferably includes a securing means 14 to hold the cover 10 firmly on board 7. The securing means 14 may comprise any conventional material, such as an elastic band or a draw string connected to the perimeter of opening 13. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the securing means 14 comprises a draw string. A pair of terminal ends 15 on drawstring 14 protrude from the cover 10 at tapered end 18. Terminal ends 15 are operable to expand or contract opening 13 when the ends are pulled or released. After sheath 12 is fitted around the edges of ironing board 7, tension applied to terminal ends 15 tightens drawstring 14 to contract opening 13 and tighten the cover 10 around ironing board 7. Release of tension from drawstring 14 loosens sheath 12 around ironing board 7 to allow removal or adjustment of cover 10. The adjustable nature of drawstring 14 allows sheath 12 to fit around most ironing boards.

[0019] Pouch 20 is attached to sheath 12 using any common fastener or method of assembly known in the art. For example, the pouch 20 may be fixed to sheath 12 using stitching or a layer of adhesive. Alternatively, pouch 20 may be removably attached to sheath 12 using fasteners such as snap connections or hook and loop fasteners, such as velcro. Referring to FIG. 4, the pouch 20 is shown in connection with hook and loop type connectors for releasably connecting the pouch to the sheath 12. In FIG. 4, pouch 20 is shown detached from hook and loop connector 19 on sheath 12. Connector 19 includes a hook connector 21 fixed to the bag 20 and a loop connector 23A fixed to the sheath 12. Alternatively, loop connector 23A may be fixed to the bag 20 and hook connector 21 fixed to sheath 12.

[0020] It is not uncommon for plastic components in hook and loop connections to collect lint or other fibrous material. This may occur if the plastic strip 21 rubs against garments or articles containing a heavy amount of lint. A significant amount of lint may accumulate on hook connector 21 if it is fixed to the sheath. In particular, if hook connector 21 is fixed to the sheath and cover 10 is used while bag 20 is detached, the plastic strip may grab onto garments or linens as they are ironed. Lint that accumulates on plastic strip 21 can prevent velcro connection 19 from working properly. Therefore, it may be desirable to place the hook connector 21 on the bottom side 27 of bag 20 rather than on the sheath.

[0021] Connector 19 is positioned so that pouch 20 rests on top of ironing board 7 when the cover 10 is attached over the board. In this way, pouch 20 remains on top of table 5, as opposed to hanging over an edge of the table, so that the person ironing can easily reach the pouch without walking around the table.

[0022] Occasionally, the person ironing may desire to remove the pouch from the top of ironing board 7 so that an item can be pressed on the entire ironing board surface. This may occur, for example, where large drapes are being ironed. Pouch 20 and its contents may present an irregular surface that is not suitable for ironing. Although removal of pouch 20 increases the amount of work space that can be used for ironing, the advantages of having the pouch are sacrificed when the pouch is removed. As a result, it is desirable to have a pouch 20 that can be attached to multiple sections of an ironing board 7 and not just the top surface.

[0023] In FIG. 4, the cover is shown with multiple hook and loop fasteners for attaching the pouch at multiple locations. Specifically, a pair of loop connectors 23A, 23B are shown attached to sheath 12. Loop connectors 23A is configured to connect with pouch 20 on the top of ironing board 7. Loop connectors 23B is configured to connect with pouch 20 on the side of ironing board 7, allowing the pouch to hang off of the side of the ironing board so that the entire surface of the board can be used for ironing.

[0024] In the previous figures, the pouch is illustrated as a flat pouch. However, alternate pouch configurations can be used. For instance, FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate pouch configuration in which the pouch 120 is generally cylindrically-shaped, extending across the table 105. To firmly secure the pouch and prevent it from floppy or rolling, preferably the pouch is attached to the cover 110 by two spaced apart rows of stitching 122 that are generally parallel. Similarly, the pouch can be attached to the cover by two spaced apart rows of hook and loop fasteners, or other connectors. The ends of the pouch 120 are closed, and an opening in the side permits access to the interior of the pouch. Preferably, a zipper 125 or other closure mechanism is provided for closing the side opening.

[0025] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention incorporates variations that fall within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An accessory for an ironing table having an ironing board that has a perimeter, comprising: a cover for covering the ironing board, comprising: an ironing surface overlying the entire perimeter of the ironing board, wherein the ironing surface of the cover comprises terminal edges, and the ironing surface between the terminal edges is substantially planer; and an apron attached to the terminal edges of the ironing surface and configured to wrap around the ironing board to attach the cover to the ironing board; and a pouch overlying the ironing surface of the cover, wherein the pouch is attached to the cover.
 2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the pouch has a length and a width and substantially the entire length and width of the pouch overlies the ironing surface intermediate the terminal edges.
 3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the pouch is substantially permanently attached to the ironing surface of the cover.
 4. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the pouch is releasably attached to the ironing surface of the cover.
 5. The accessory of claim 4 comprising first and second cooperating connectors, wherein the first connector is fixedly attached to the cover and the second connector is fixedly attached to the pouch.
 6. The accessory of claim 5 comprising a third connector attached to the cover, wherein the third connector is cooperable with the second connector.
 7. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the pouch is formed of heat resistant material such that the pouch will not readily melt upon contact with a hot iron.
 8. An ironing table, comprising: an ironing board having a top side and a bottom side; a pair of legs pivotally attached to the ironing board and operable between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein a gap is formed between the bottom side of the ironing board and the legs in the extended position, and wherein the lengths of the legs are positioned adjacent the ironing board in the collapsed position; a cover overlying the top surface of the ironing board, wherein the cover comprises a substantially planer portion providing an ironing surface; a pouch attached to the cover wherein the pouch is configured and attached to the cover such that substantially the entire pouch is outside the gap to prevent the pouch from interfering with the legs when the legs are pivoted from the extended position to the collapsed position.
 9. The table of claim 8 wherein the pouch is attached to the ironing surface.
 10. The table of claim 9 wherein substantially the entire pouch overlies the ironing surface.
 11. The table of claim 8 comprising a first connector attached to the cover and a second connector attached to the pouch wherein the first and second connectors are cooperable to releasably attach the pouch to the ironing surface.
 12. The table of claim 8 wherein the board has an elongated longitudinal axis and the pouch is elongated about an axis transverse the longitudinal axis of the board.
 13. The table of claim 12 comprising two connectors extending along substantially the elongated axis of the pouch, wherein the two connectors are generally parallel and are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the board.
 14. The table of claim 13 wherein the two connectors substantially permanently attached the pouch to the ironing surface.
 15. The table of claim 8 wherein the pouch has a height and a width, and the height is at least half of the width. 